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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSinger Leon Redbone Dies at 69
Singer-songwriter Leon Redbone, who specialized in old-school vaudeville and Tin Pan Alley-style music, died earlier today, his family confirmed. He was 69 although, in characteristically whimsical fashion, the official statement announcing his death gave his age as 127.
Although Redbones pop-defying predilection for seemingly antiquated musical styles of the 20s and 30s made him the unlikeliest of stars, he became one anyway, appearing several times as the musical guest Saturday Night Live including two spots in the inaugural 1975-76 season alone and landing frequent appearances with Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show. Later popular successes had him singing the themes for TVs Mr. Beledevere and Harry and the Hendersons, along with recording a duet of Baby, Its Cold Outside with Zooey Deschanel for the soundtrack of Elf, for which he also voiced the animated character of Leon the Snowman.
Redbone had officially retired in 2015, with a representative then citing unspecified health concerns as the reason for his being unable to continue performing or recording.
A post on Redbones website confirming his death contained enough deadpan humor and whimsical fiction that it was almost certainly prepared in advance by the singer himself. It is with heavy hearts we announce that early this morning, May 30th, 2019, Leon Redbone crossed the delta for that beautiful shore at the age of 127, it read. He departed our world with his guitar, his trusty companion Rover, and a simple tip of his hat. Hes interested to see what Blind Blake, Emmett, and Jelly Roll have been up to in his absence, and has plans for a rousing sing along number with Sári Barabás. An eternity of pouring through texts in the Library of Ashurbanipal will be a welcome repose, perhaps followed by a shot or two of whiskey with Lee Morse, and some long overdue discussions with his favorite Uncle, Suppiluliuma I of the Hittites. To his fans, friends, and loving family who have already been missing him so in this realm he says, Oh behave yourselves. Thank you
. and good evening everybody.'
https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/singer-leon-redbone-dies-at-69/ar-AAC9aqK?li=BBnbfcL
hlthe2b
(102,342 posts)RIP
Brother Buzz
(36,458 posts)This tune is the quintessential Leon Redbone I will remember
hlthe2b
(102,342 posts)Brother Buzz
(36,458 posts)lpbk2713
(42,766 posts)lunasun
(21,646 posts)1973 above
later 2001 longer vid of live below
struggle4progress
(118,330 posts)tavernier
(12,396 posts)You will be missed.
MyOwnPeace
(16,937 posts)but this was my favorite:
Brother Buzz
(36,458 posts)maxsolomon
(33,379 posts)I have about 5 of his LPs and just found a cassette in a thrift. I'll play it in the car tonight!
GeorgeGist
(25,322 posts)Liberal In Texas
(13,570 posts)Sure makes me feel old. And he was my age which is even more sobering.
SergeStorms
(19,204 posts)So many of our contemporaries are shuffling off. He was way too young to leave us!
LuvNewcastle
(16,852 posts)And that's a great thing to be able to say about anyone.
irisblue
(33,018 posts)DFW
(54,436 posts)I saw him several times
Always a class act!
jcboon
(296 posts)As a if things didn't suck enough this week. . .
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)I think I first saw him on Smothers Brothers? Maybe not. Maybe I'm confusing him with the comedian who played a priest. They looked similar.
Unique singer. I think he even made an appearance in a movie or two.
MyOwnPeace
(16,937 posts)comedian Dan Novello.
I don't remember Leon on the Smothers Brothers - but he was on SNL twice in its first season.
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)jimmil
(629 posts)It's hard to say anything. He gave me many hours of enjoyment throughout the years. No matter what kind of mood I was in I put on a Redbone album and I smiled. Until we meet again old friend....
warmfeet
(3,321 posts)What a great musician and personality.
nolabear
(41,990 posts)bluescribbler
(2,121 posts)Wish it had been more.
SergeStorms
(19,204 posts)Solo performances in a place called 'Red Creek' in Rochester, NY. The place only held probably 100 people at most, so it was a unique, intimate and extremely entertaining show. All the good ones are leaving us.
txwhitedove
(3,929 posts)Loved his voice.
NNadir
(33,541 posts)It appears, from his own humorous obituary, written by himself that he's pretty amazing dead as well.
The is the second self written obituary I've read in recent weeks, the other written by one of my son's professors, an excellent scientist who died way too young from a degenerative disease.
Both captured the essence of the person in question well.
I need to write mine as well. Time's-a-wasting.
SergeStorms
(19,204 posts)I loved Leon. He always put on a hell-of-a show, and I loved his songs of yester-year. My favorite was "Shine on Harvest Moon". He was a very unique and wonderful entertainer. I'll have to go to YouTube and get a fix of Leon now.
Rest in Peace my friend.
trackfan
(3,650 posts)I remember liking the song "TB Blues".
Peacetrain
(22,878 posts)to remember some of the greatest times of my life.. Good Night John Redbone.. Gods speed...
pansypoo53219
(20,987 posts)sludge man
(31 posts)He opened for George Carlin. It remains the greatest show I ever saw. Now they are both gone.
RIP to both of them.